Steep rise in Ukrainian poultry output

Ukraine is
likely to produce 550,000 metric tonnes of poultry this year, compared with
419,200 tonnes in 2005, according to a report published in Kiev by the Poultry
Rearers' Union of Ukraine.

Ukraine's poultry output fell to 419,200 tonnes in 2005 from 515,000 tonnes
in 2004 due to culling and falling demand because of bird flu, but the industry
is recovering this year, the report said.

The proportion of poultry
in the total amount of meat consumed by Ukrainians this year is likely to
increase to 50% from 12% in 2000.

By 2010 Ukraine plans to be
producing 800,000 tonnes of poultry a year, including 500,000 tonnes of broiler
chicken meat.

The report said in the last few years, despite bird
flu, a number of serious investors entered the poultry market and considerable
financial resources had been invested in upgrading the existing facilities and
creating new ones.

Currently only six kilograms of poultry is
consumed every year per head of population in Ukraine, compared with 13.6
kilograms in 1990, so there is great potential for development, the report said.